Description
Eggplant—which absorbs oil easily—pre-softened gooey via microwave then soaked in five-spice soup. Achieves supreme umami and texture while cutting oil to the limit.
Restaurants serving Eggplant Luwei (Quick & Budget)
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Eggplant
- Sesame oil(for coating)
- Quick Lu Zhi (soy
- Mentsuyu
- cola
- five-spice etc.)
- Tube garlic
Instructions
- [Authentic & Quick Recipe]
- [Eggplant Color-fixing & Microwave] Hull eggplant (
- , halve vertically, score fine diagonal cuts (hidden cuts) on skin side. Cut bite-sized, put in heatproof container. Biggest quick & diet trick here: firmly coat whole eggplant with sesame oil (
- tsp) by hand. Wrap fluffily, microwave (600W) 3-
- mins until completely gooey (*Coating with sesame oil retains beautiful purple with minimal oil while adding fried-eggplant-like richness).
- [Strong Umami Quick Lu Zhi] Boil cola (slightly generous), soy, Mentsuyu, tube garlic, five-spice in a pot.
- [Magic of Soaking Without Simmering] Turn off heat, toss piping hot gooey microwaved eggplant into soup. Absolutely do not simmer (it will crumble into mush).
- [Finishing] Leave as is in soup until heat removes. Spongy eggplant absorbs Taiwan soup to the limit while cooling, completing an exquisite Luwei so gooey it can't be held with chopsticks.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Sweet five-spice aroma and intense savoriness of garlic and sesame oil、ごま油の強烈な香ばしさ
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Zucchini (similarly microwave gooey and soak)
Pairing
White Rice(ultimate rice thief)、Cold somen
Trivia
[For Everyone] #34 'Weight-loss ingredient'. Eggplant/oil affinity is supreme, but pan-frying skyrockets calories. This hack using microwave and minimal sesame oil drastically cuts fat while completing gooey 'Taiwanese-style soaked fried eggplant' as if deep-fried then simmered. Dangerous side satisfying white rice cravings during diets.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Top heavily with Taiwan basil (or shiso/scallions), chill ice-cold in fridge, enjoying in summer as 'Taiwanese-style Chilled Fried-and-Soaked'!
Allergen
Soy, Wheat (from soy/Mentsuyu), Sesame